How to Grow Pinto Bean Plants

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How to Grow Pinto Bean Plants

Overview

Pinto beans are nutritional and packed full of cholesterol-lowering fiber. Growing pinto bean plants in your home garden will provide you with a crop of fresh beans ready to add to your recipes. Considered a dry bean, the pinto bean is simple to grow with basic maintenance requirements. Plant four to eight pinto bean plants for each person. Prepare the site ahead of planting the pinto beans to ensure the best growing conditions exist.

Step 1

Select a location to grow the pinto beans providing full sun and well-draining soil. Plan enough room to space the pinto beans 2 to 4 inches apart in rows spaced 2 to 3 feet apart. Pick a planting date after the last chance of frost has passed in your area.

Step 2

Clear the area of all plants, rocks, roots or other debris. Add 2 to 3 inches of aged compost and an all-purpose fertilizer to the soil. Work these into the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. Plant the pinto beans 1 to 1½-inch deep, every 2 to 4 inches along the row.

Step 3

Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the newly planted pinto beans, but not covering the planted beans. This will prevent weeds from growing in the area and retain moisture in the soil. Lightly cultivate the area around the growing pinto bean plants to control weeds, if mulch is not used. Do this carefully because the roots of the pinto bean plant are shallow.

Step 4

Water the newly planted pinto beans thoroughly. Continue to supply an inch of water weekly during the growing season, if the rainfall in your area is less.

Step 5

Allow pinto bean plants to mature fully before harvesting. The leaves on the plant will turn brown or fall off. Allow the pods holding the pinto beans to dry fully before harvesting.

Tips and Warnings

Do not use fertilizers with high levels of nitrogen on pinto bean plants, because it can affect the amount of beans produced.

Things You'll Need

Shovel

Rake

Hoe

Fertilizer

Aged compost (organic matter)

Water

References

Purdue University Cooperative Extension: Growing Beans in the Home Vegetable Garden

Harvest to Table: How to Grow Dry Beans

Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Beans in the Garden

Who Can Help

WHFoods: Pinto Beans

Keywords:
growing pinto bean, grow dry bean, plant pinto beans

About this Author

Diane Dilov-Schultheis has been writing professionally since 2000. She is a food and travel writer who also specializes in gaming, satellites, RV repair, gardening, finances and electronics. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and has been published on Yahoo!, the Travel Channel and Intel.